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Post by Brett on Feb 6, 2008 17:32:27 GMT 12
Reading in the "NZ Aeronews" today that the Old Stick & Rudder Company are expecting to host "open days" on several weekends over the summer whereby the public can wander around their hangar, and kiddies can have their photo taken in the "King Kong" Helldiver.
Naturally enough the Old Stick and Rudder Company website has absolutely no information about this at all.
There is no mention of these open days in any NZ aviation calendars that I can find.
Does anybody have any more information?
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 6, 2008 18:12:05 GMT 12
Yes, the website is not the best.
I tried e-mailing them last year to find out when they are open for visits, but never heard back from them. So I took a chance, and popped in one morning, but there was no one around and no one else on the airfield seem to know when they were around either.
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Post by vs on Feb 6, 2008 18:42:49 GMT 12
Isnt it bening run by the guys who bould the World War 1 aeroplanes?
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Post by p40fanatic on Feb 6, 2008 19:12:27 GMT 12
No, they're two different organisations AFAIK.
Would be great though! I'd love to see other museums follow this lead.
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Post by Brett on Feb 8, 2008 11:39:12 GMT 12
I have read Aeronews again and it is The Vintage Aviator Ltd who are running the displays, using the Old Stick and Rudder Co hangar (Hangar 14).
10am to 4pm Sat & Sun, with a flying display of a selected aircraft at midday on Sat.
The first one is this weekend (9-10 Feb).
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Post by Brett on Feb 9, 2008 11:05:29 GMT 12
They have changed the date.
The first weekend is now 16-17 Feb
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Post by Brett on Feb 16, 2008 14:54:41 GMT 12
Wandered along to this today.
Aircraft on display from The Vintage Aviator Ltd were: DH 82A Tiger Moth Avro 504 K Replica Pfalz DIII Replica Fokker Triplane Replica (x3) Halberstadt D IV Replica Sopwith Camel Replica Nieuport XI Replica SE5A-1 Replica
The Old Stick and Rudder Co had the Corsair, P-40 and DHC-1 in the hangar, with the Provost and Gene DeMarco's Stampe SV4 parked outside.
Due to gusty conditions the Pfalz display was cancelled.
The aircraft were displayed in the OS&R hangar, with no ropes around them. Most of the aircraft had little platforms beside them so that you could see into the cockpits. They also had information boards with each aircraft.
Entry was $10 for adults, $5 for kids.
This would be ideal for modellers because you can get excellent close-up photos of the aircraft from any angle you want.
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Post by Brett on Feb 16, 2008 14:58:47 GMT 12
Oops, the King Kong Helldiver was there as well.
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Post by p40fanatic on Feb 17, 2008 14:01:15 GMT 12
So no-one got any pics? I had no idea Gene has a Stampe in NZ, way too cool!
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 17, 2008 14:01:57 GMT 12
Brett, did you take your camera?
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 17, 2008 14:06:14 GMT 12
Did they get a good sized crowd along for the day?
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Post by Brett on Feb 18, 2008 12:23:25 GMT 12
Yes, I took a camera along. I presume this Stampe belongs to Gene DeMarco because it is still on the US register in his name. The Halberstadt D IV has been repainted and now features the "runny mascara" camoflage rather than the all-over "fence-paint brown" it used to sport. You can see into the cockpits... And get close enough to take in the neat little details you don't normally see at airshows. There were very few people there during the time I was wandering around. In fact, there were more staff than visitors. I don't know if there was any advertising done other than a notice stuck up on the hangar door, and I would expect most die-hard propeller-heads to have been at SportAvex that weekend. Cheers, Brett
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Post by p40fanatic on Feb 18, 2008 14:09:42 GMT 12
The reason the Halberstadt appears to be repainted is because it's actually the Fokker D.IV! The Halberstadt is safely ensconced at the Omaka AHC.
Is the cockpit shot of the Avro?
And lovely to see a Stampe outside at an NZ airfield. Great stuff! Shame about the apparently low turn out, but too true regards timing! Fingers crossed next time.
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Post by Brett on Feb 18, 2008 17:04:31 GMT 12
Oops!
I was going by the pointy nose when should have been looking at the round rudder.
The cockpit shot is the Avro 504.
The low turn-out isn't such a bad thing. Neither aircraft owner needs to make money out of the event. The plan is to run these weekend 'open days' between November and April each year, and the weekends between now and April are being used as a trial run. Having small number while the kinks are ironed out is good for everybody.
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Post by hardyakka on Feb 19, 2008 0:21:23 GMT 12
I think Russell Ward has a Stampe under restoration at his hangar on Kelly Field (near Mercer). Is that the aircraft that is referred to as the "German Tiger Moth"? I'm due to visit his place for the Vintage Aero Club AGM soon so I'll see how the restore is coming along.
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Post by p40fanatic on Feb 19, 2008 8:13:49 GMT 12
It could well be! Although that's wrong, as Stampe and Vertongen were Belgians! I know a (Frenchman?) brought a Stampe into NZ in the late 90s as well, but no-one seems to know whether its still here... I remember hearing about the Ward machine, thanks in advance for the update!
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Post by Brett on Feb 19, 2008 18:32:13 GMT 12
Belgian design, built in Belgium and under license in France.
Perhaps you were thinking of the Bücker Bü 131 "Jungmann" (Young man) ?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 20, 2008 11:11:47 GMT 12
Thanks for posting some pics Brett, really interesting.
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